Actor drops by, delights entire school

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Johnny Depp has often played an on-screen hero -- now he's playing the part off-screen, too.

After 9-year-old Beatrice Delap wrote the swashbuckling actor a letter asking for assistance with a mutiny against the teachers of her London school, Meridian Primary, Depp delighted the girl by showing up dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow, his "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie franchise character.

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The 47-year-old actor was working not far from the southeastern London school, filming the latest installment in the series, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," at the Old Naval College.

As part of a class that focuses on writing for an audience, Delap had written to Depp: "We are a bunch of budding young pirates and we're having trouble mutinying against the teachers! We'd love it if you could come and help!"

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The plea prompted Depp to bring a few cast members to the school to sing pirate songs and dance for the students. And Jack/ Johnny even called Delap to the front of the class and gave her a congratulatory hug.

"What an exciting and memorable day," the school wrote in a message on its website. "Thanks Captain Jack from all us landlubbers!"

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Delap, meanwhile, has some advice for any other students seeking help: Get your message out.

"If you don't give it a try," she told CBS' Early Show, "you'll never know."

As for the mutiny, those plans seem to be on hold -- Depp advised Delap that such a move would only lead to more trouble with her teachers.